Nottingham Forest host Sheffield United at the City Ground this weekend.
Nottingham Forest will be looking to bounce back from their midweek Carabao Cup elimination to Burton Albion when they take on fellow Championship promotion rivals Sheffield United this weekend.
The Reds are currently sitting just one place below the playoffs, having picked up four points from their last three league games coming back from the October international break.
Aitor Karanka’s side have a decent record against fellow top six opponents so far this season, recently beating Middlesbrough away 2-0 while picking up draws against Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion.
Sheffield United will pose Forest a different kind of problem on Saturday, with manager Chris Wilder building up a competitive team at Bramall Lane capable of going to the City Ground and picking up all three points.
Forest will make several changes to the side which lost at Nigel Clough’s Burton, but two players who won’t be available are Jack Colback (suspension) in midfield and regular centre-back Daniel Fox who is sidelined with injury.
Summer signing Michael Hefele is likely to keep his place in defence and partner Tobias Figueiredo, while Karanka has a decision to make in midfield with Ben Watson and Liam Bridcutt seeking a start.
Top scorer Lewis Grabban will come back in for Hillal Soudani who started in midweek, while attacking midfielders Joe Lolley and Joao Carvalho are also expected to come back in to the side.
Forest will be desperate to beat the Blades and half the six-point deficit to the current league leaders, though it will be a challenge with Wilder’s side surely set to target the Reds’ weakened spine.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
